Planning a holiday dinner is a massive undertaking, even for those of us who have done it many times before. And while there’s plenty of attention paid to appetizers and the main course, dessert doesn’t always get so lucky. We get it, you’ve already been cooking for days, and the last thing you want to do is whip up another dish.
Luckily, Trader Joe’s has a plethora of Christmas desserts that will save you hours of baking time, if you so choose. Some treats can be served as is, while others need a bit of easy prep. No matter what Trader Joe’s Christmas dessert you choose, you can rest assured that the sweet treat will be reasonably priced and taste downright delectable. In fact, many of these options look homemade, so no one even needs to know you went to the grocery store!
Chocolate Peppermint Loaf & Baking Mix
Trader Joe’s
You can’t beat the winter holiday combo of chocolate and peppermint, and this baking mix nails it. When baked into a holiday treat, the mix becomes rich, moist, and deeply chocolatey, with just the right amount of mint flavor to make your taste buds tingle. While you can bake and serve a stellar chocolate peppermint loaf, you can also use this mix to whip up chocolate peppermint crackle cookies or peppermint s’more cake. The choice is yours!
Chocolate Brooklyn Babka
Trader Joe’s
If you’re hosting a Hanukkah party, this babka is a must. Made in a small bakery in Brooklyn, it tastes just like the babkas your grandmother used to make. It’s soft, moist, and mildly sweet with ribbons of chocolate throughout, making it perfect for a treat or snack.
Organic Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls
Trader Joe’s
Planning one epic Christmas brunch? Trader Joe’s has your back with these Organic Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls. Topped with tasty vanilla icing, these organic pastries are fluffy and boast some especially epic cinnamon-sugary spirals. Find these rolls in the refrigerator section on your next Trader Joe’s trip.
Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Cremes
Trader Joe’s
We know these chocolate-covered treats are good because they’ve been in Trader Joe’s stores for an impressive 10 years. For those who have never had a Peppermint Creme, each one has three key components: a sweet, creamy peppermint filling, a smooth dark chocolate coating, and a sprinkle of crushed candy cane pieces on top for a crunch and burst of minty flavor. Add these to your holiday cookie spread, or send guests home with a few for the road.
Super Chocolatey Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough
Trader Joe’s
If you follow a gluten-free diet, this is the cookie dough to buy. Instead of using wheat flour to create the dry base of these easy-bake beauties, Trader Joe’s utilizes a mixture that includes rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca starch. This ready-to-bake cookie dough does have chocolate chips in it, so it’s not as versatile as the sugar cookie version, but you can still use it to make other cookies if you’d like.
Belgian Cookie Collection
Trader Joe’s
Rather not spend your day baking? Pick up TJ’s Belgian Cookie Collection. Each packed tin contains a dozen different cookie varieties, including chocolate-enrobed cocoa cream wafers, buttery, chocolate-dipped shortbreads, and more. If you’re heading to a holiday party instead of hosting one, consider bringing this delicious cookie assortment as a gift.
Sea Salt Brownies
Trader Joe’s
It’s hard to go wrong with brownies, and these bite-sized pastries are the perfect holiday treat. Yes, they are dense and fudgy with an unmistakable rich cocoa taste, amplified by a hint of sea salt. Enjoy them on their own, paired with vanilla ice cream, or blended into a shake.
Gingerbread Cake & Cookie Mix
Trader Joe’s
This versatile baking mix one has notes of molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg and generous amounts of crystallized ginger. Depending on how you prepare it, it makes a moist, tender cake or festive cookies. Serve this after a holiday meal with coffee, and save any leftovers for the following morning. You’d be surprised at how good a slice tastes with a pat of butter or cream cheese.
Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies
Trader Joes
If you’re planning on having a dessert table at your holiday celebration, be sure to include these Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies. Just 3 inches in diameter, each delightfully gooey mini pie blends sweet brown sugar and pecan filling inside a flaky, buttery crust. Enjoy them right out of the box, or warm them in the oven or microwave and top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
Trader Joe’s
Consider these an elevated take on gingerbread cookies. Here, two molasses-y gingerbread treats sandwich a delicious layer of sweet vanilla frosting, making this dessert a bit cake-like and seriously festive. Since these cookies look homemade, go ahead and plop them on a platter and take the credit, if you want. No one will know!